Results 8,601-8,620 of 26,021 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: With the ultimate objective of delivering on the 2030 and 2050 targets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: By way of a just transition.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Department has been very proactive. Someone has been in contact with the clerk to say that Second Stage of the Bill is expected to come before the Dáil in the first week in November. We will probably try to schedule it sometime in mid to late November. The witnesses must provide feedback to us on when it is ready in order that we can get Second Stage under way because it is very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is under way. It is an issue that we are getting a lot of queries on from the general public and providers as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The general view is that there is anticipation that it will be in place before the end of the year. In order for that to happen, the various components must be put in place, one of those being the Committee Stage debate. I presume the Bill will go to the Dáil before it goes to the Seanad. That appears to be the way now. We will work with the Department to progress the Bill as quickly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Senator Buttimer wish to make a further contribution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: In that regard, there is a body of work on electric vehicles, and it is implicit in it that taxi drivers will form part of our discussion on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I might make a comment before Mr. Spratt responds. The Department ran a successful programme with schools to allow them to apply to be designated as safe schools with surrounding infrastructure. Many schools were disappointed they were not selected for the pilot programme. This follows on from the Senator's question. Would the Department consider rolling out this programme for all schools...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Would the Department consider rolling out another round such that the programme would be extended to the school that applied but that was not accepted? Obviously, there is a requirement for some form of due diligence in that regard. Is the programme paid for out of the €260 million budget?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is great news.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: How many schools were selected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What level of resources have been allocated to the scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What I am saying is that €260 million is a significant amount. If 900 schools applied but only 170 of them were successful, that is less than 20%. The bones of 730 schools that were not picked. This is about starting with young people. It ticks a significant number of boxes - it facilitates active travel and in many cases it will improve safety around schools. That is the case for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: No, it is 170 primary schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I think the figure of 170 relates to primary schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: In the context of the nuts and bolts of the initiative, are the 900 schools that applied all primary schools?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: How much was allocated to the programme for 2021?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: That allocation of €15 million is less than 5% of the overall budget. The point I am trying to make is a very simple one. It is about how money is spent. The benefits from this initiative are enormous for every town, village, rural area and urban area. Of the 170 schools, what is the breakdown between primary and secondary schools?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask Mr. Ebrill to send the committee a briefing paper in respect of the status of the project and what is being proposed. Collectively, the committee believes this to be a very beneficial project, as do our guests, I have no doubt. The question is whether we can give it more emphasis in terms of process and resources. Members will always judge a scheme based on the queries brought to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sustainable Mobility Policy: Department of Transport (13 Oct 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask Mr. Ebrill to provide a briefing paper to the committee. We will come back on that. I thank Mr. Spratt, Mr. Doocey, Mr. Mullaney and Mr. Ebrill for attending and engaging with the committee. I look forward to further engagement with them. I ask them to provide a further update, if they have one, on the e-scooter legislation that is coming through, as well as a briefing document on...